Parrotfish

I was looking for something colorful and came across the beautiful Parrotfish. I've seen this fish all my life, but never really stopped to take a closer look at the intricate details and incredible array of turquoise, pink, blue, and orange.

The orange lines especially caught my attention. I knew this was a fish that could really benefit from the sunlight and shadow effect, provided I found the right backing color.

This fish represents everything I love about the tropical habitat. The colors, the patterns, and the overall personality make it a perfect fit.

No fish screams Piña Colada more!

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Scientific Name: Scaridae

• Habitat: Tropical and subtropical coral reefs, rocky reef environments, and sometimes seagrass beds. Many species are commonly found in shallow water, roughly 1–30 meters (3–98 feet).

• Range: Tropical waters throughout the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific oceans, including the Caribbean, Red Sea, and Indo-Pacific reef systems.

• Typical size: Varies considerably by species, from less than 1 foot to around 4 feet (1.2 meters). Many commonly encountered species fall in the 1–2 foot range.

• Diet: Primarily algae scraped from coral and rocky surfaces. They sometimes consume bits of coral along with the algae, using specialized teeth in their throats to grind the material.

• Known for: Their brilliant colors, distinctive beak-like mouths formed by fused teeth, and important role in maintaining healthy coral reefs. As they feed, they grind up bits of coral and produce fine white sand. Some species also change sex during their lifetime and create a protective mucus cocoon around themselves at night.